The Beginning of The End

Julia

"Mom, can we please stop?" I question as my Mother takes the exit off the highway-after nine hours of nonstop driving. My eyes skim the signs around and I notice that we're heading to no place other than New York City. Fun... hoorah... yippee...

I would be more excited, but this whole 'moving' experience isn't really too abnormal for the two of us. For as long as I could remember, it's always just been me and her driving around from state to state looking for someone to hire her as a news reporter. I've never really remembered a time when we actually stayed in one place, especially since my Mother has quite the reputation for being a slut. It was a little bit too common to find her sleeping with her cohost-married or not, man or lady. That usually caused us to move around a little bit more than a family in the army.

I sigh when she doesn't even try to reply, it's impossible to get to her sometimes. Sometimes, I think she's just trapped in her own little world of Mom-ville, which inhabits her and her alone since God knows that she doesn't have the time for anyone, especially a kid. She drives into big city as I check myself out in the car mirror. I look strangely like my Mother, with our shared fierce blonde hair and harsh, almost metallic silver toned eyes. However, my skin is a little more tanned than her's and, unlike her, I do happen to think more things through.

A sudden jolt rocks the entire car and I immediately grip the arm rests a little bit harder. But my Mother, ever the optimist, just continues to drive as if the car coming to the brink of breaking down is normal.

"Mom, you know, I do want to make it to my seventeenth birthday." I state with an eye roll, but my Mother only glares at me before looking back at the road. I sigh and push some blond hair behind my ear, slowly waiting for my Mom to find one of the bajillion of the hotels inside NYC so we can make our stay.

I kind of doze off for a while, that when I'm once again alert of our surroundings, its only to see that we've parked right smack in front of the Avengers Tower. I raise my eyebrows, she's going for big gigs now? I didn't even know that the Avengers were looking for their own personal news reporter. I glance over to my Mother and stare into her features.

She's a million times more beautiful than me with her curvy figure and mischievous look in her eyes, all at the age of 34. You can easily see why so many people hired her just from her looks alone, but, when she wants to be, she can also be outgoing, polite, and just a little bit of a tease. When she wants to be of course, which is always right when a camera lens falls onto her face.

I quickly notice that we're blocking an entire lane of the road and my ears get filled with curses from various New Yorkers. But, as always, my Mother honestly gives no fucks and leaves the car before she walks up to the building. But before she manages to get within five feet of the Avengers Compound, a sudden force field blocks her way.

"Let me in." She orders, as if she had some sort of power. I stifle my laughter, my eyes glowing with amusement as I shook my head at her childish actions before my stomach growls. I wonder if there's a Starbucks nearby...

"I'm sorry, Miss." A female, British voice responds. "There are no visitors allowed into the Avengers Tower at this time." she states as I begin to feel bad for the AI. She obviously doesn't know what the type of person my Mother is.

"Tell Tony Stark that I'm Samantha Lionstone." My Mother complains, as if there's some sort of value to our family name. If anything, the very name should make Tony Stark want to refuse us even more. I check my phone, desperate to pass the time as the sound of furious honks and foul words from drivers continue to litter my ears. I'm surprised there are still so many people who live in NYC, after all, isn't there, like, a bajillion villains who attack every Sunday.

As if my Mother struck a nerve, the force field disappears. My Mother gives a smirk in satisfaction as I roll my eyes. They must be hiring for some News Reporter. I feel bad for the Avengers, my Mother is obviously trying to sleep with at least one of them. Probably Thor, for all I know.

Before my Mother goes in, however, she turns around and raises an eyebrow, as if she's saying What the fuck are you waiting for? I roll my eyes and quickly exit the twenty year old van.

I'm not exactly dressed to see the Avengers. My blond hair is a complete mess. All I'm wearing are converse shoes, faded boyfriend jeans, and a black shirt. I wish my Mother told me that we were seeing actual legends so I could actually prepare a little bit better. Still, I quickly run over to her while quickly patting down my hair, wanting to look at least a little presentable before we both entered the building.

I don't really know what to expect, but I wish that we could at least explore the famous building a little bit. I know that the Avengers don't really use it anymore and it's more of just a very luxerious home to Tony Stark, with maybe a few priceless, Avenger trinkets lying around, but that doesn't make it any les cool.

However, instead of being able to explore the famous building, me and my Mother were only met by Tony Stark's face.

His dark brown hair was ruffled and messy, making me feel slightly better and less self-conscious about mine. His skin is tanned and his eyes were so serious, it almost took me back a little bit. Unlike how I practically always see him on the TV, with a suit all casual, professional and fun-like, he wore a simple grey shirt and black sweatpants. His hands were stained in what looked like oil and were crossed, only adding to that sort of disapproving parent vibe he had going on.

His eyes glance briefly over to Mother, before he stares at me. His stare is so nerve racking and uncomfortable, that it baffles my mind that this is the same person who I see constantly on TV. He doesn't seem like the same friendly, small talk, likable genius that I've always envisioned him to be. His eyes continue to linger on my own, making it so that I'm the first to break the uncomfortable stare by checking my phone, suddenly feeling desperate to escape the building I at first was excited to enter. Knowing my Mother, she's probably going to seduce him or something, and despite all the times I've seen her do it, it still manages to make me want to bleach my ears every time.

"What do you want, Samantha?" He questions, his question straight to the point as my Mother simply gives him a tight lipped smile before opening her purse and taking out a folder of paper. Her hastily put together resume I guess. I'm surprised that she's not showing nearly as much cleavage as she usually does.. and that Tony Stark actually knows my Mother's name.

"Here's everything. Her birth certificate, passport, hell, I even have her fucking report cards." She states as Mr. Stark simply stares at the folder but doesn't touch it. Suddenly, the seriousness in his dark brown eyes suddenly turns to plain and utter fear as he stares back at her. Her arm is still outreached, and my Mother's mysterious grey eyes not even blinking as her face twitches. Suddenly, the beauty seemed to have been stripped of her features and for a moment, she looks utterly and completely psychotic.

"What are you giving me this for?" He asks, his voice shaking as my Mother shoves the files into his arms before taking a step back, looking a little… relieved. Confusion bubbles up in my chest, what the hell is she doing? What's happening? This doesn't seem like a job interview.

"I'm done, Tony." Mom states and runs her hands through her hair. "I've spent what's supposed to be the best years of my life raising this… this ungrateful brat. It's your turn now."

"No…" Tony states as the files within the folder begin to fall out. I glance down at one of them and see the name. Juliette Esmeray Lionstone. My name. Suddenly, my heart is beating harder and harder within my chest. I don't know what's happening, but whatever is, I know it can't be good. Tony rushes towards her receding figure, his eyes full of desperation. "No, you don't understand. I can't raise her, not now! I'll… I'll give you more money! I'll give you a job, a house, anything!"

"Well listen up, neither can I! I need to live my life without her!" She yells back and gives him the middle finger.

"No, please, Samantha!" Tony Stark yells back. His voice turns soft as he looks back at me. Frankly, I never thought the first time meeting my idol would be in such a weird situation. "Does… Does she even know who I am?"

My Mother slowly turns around, one hand on the door and the other resting by her side. She briefly glances at Tony, before turning her head to me and smiling. A sickly-sweet smile that you know means she's up to no good.

"Sweetie, this is Tony Stark, your Father. But that's not really that important, what is important, is the fact that I'm done with you, Julia. You're going to live with your Father now. Good bye, darling."

Soooo I severely disliked the last version I made of this story, so I decided to rewrite it! Hope you enjoy!

Xoxo,

Emily :)